Nile Marr is the son of former Smiths guitarist and current solo artist Johnny Marr and his wife Angela. He was named for one of his father’s musical heroes, Chic’s Nile Rodgers.

Marr started out as a solo artist, then as a duo with American singer-songwriter Meredith Sheldon, and then in the trio Man Made, alongside drummer Scott Griffiths and bassist Callum Rogers, with future tour manager for Blossoms, Dan Woolfie, as their sound engineer. They released their debut album TV Broke My Brain in 2016, although its constituent songs were written over a period of eight years.

Marr released a debut solo album in 2020, titled Are You Happy Now? “Part Time Girl” was released as its first single in 2019. “Are You Happy Now?” followed in June 2020.

An EP, Still Hearts, was released on 24 April, 2020. “Still Hearts” was its first single. Aside from the title track, there are two other tracks: “Hush” and “The Pusher”.

Marr added acoustic guitar and backing vocals on 7 Worlds Collide’s 2009 album The Sun Came Out. He has also appeared on two of his father’s albums: on 2013’s The Messenger he plays as a soloist, while on 2014’s Playland he adds backing vocals.

Marr has toured extensively with German film score composer and record producer Hans Zimmer

What’s your story as an artist? 

I was born at a very young age, in the small city of Manchester. My parents would force me to write song after song, guitar picks fastened to each finger. I’d write and write until my fingers were worn to nubs, sung until my voice was horse. Literally singing for my supper. 

What inspired this last release?

My previous release.

Do you get inspired by other art forms?

Jiujitsu, sometimes referred to as the gentle art. It helps me clear my head and focus only on movements and forms I wouldn’t be thinking of otherwise. Everyone needs a hobby.

Any funny anecdotes from the time you were recording or writing this?

I write and record all by myself. It’s a solitary and lonely experience. Laughing alone in a dark room would be weird. 

What’s your favorite place or environment to write?

I have yet to experience it, but I imagine somewhere really nice and warm with nice lighting and expensive furnishings, maybe a pool. That would be pretty sweet. 

What’s a record that shaped your creativity?

My previous release. I make it a policy of only knowing my own music. 

Who is an artist or band you look up to today?

Got to be Nirvana. So many big tunes: ‘How You Remind Me’, ‘Rockstar’ and that song they did for a Spiderman movie? Straight hits. To think they started as a small band from Canada and the lead singer ended up married to Avril Lavigne. If that’s not inspiring I don’t know what is.

What excites you the most about what you do ?

My favourite part of making music are the questions. It’s literally why I got into this. 

What is your view on genres and music styles since you mix a lot of them in your music?

I’m pretty genre specific, and pride myself on my ability to stay within my genre. How else would you organise record shops without them? Once I started playing guitar, I’ve pretty much only made alternative guitar music. At no point have I ever tried nu metal or rap. 

What does music and art mean to you?

A: stands for ‘Are you kidding me? How did someone make that?’

R: stands for ‘R you kidding me? I don’t even know how you begin to think of something like that?’

T: stads for ‘Tar you kidding?! I would have never thought to do it that way’

How would you describe your act in one word?

Clean